Stories & Features

Cold weather continues, Winter Payment Plan is back

We know higher winter electricity bills can be harder to manage, and we’re offering a winter payment program to offer residential customers more time to pay.

Winter payment arrangements available to pay a higher winter bill over a 6-month period

This winter got off to a cold start in B.C. Early November saw Kelowna, Vernon, Salmon Arm, Princeton, Penticton, Campbell River, Tofino, Whistler and Hope all breaking cold temperature records. Cold weather means we're all using more electricity too; the second half of December 2017 had peak electricity demand that was above the previous 10-year average.

Our meteorologists are forecasting the next couple of months will continue to bring below-average temperatures.

And what lower temperatures typically mean is higher electricity bills – especially for those using electric heat. Residential energy usage increases, on average, by 88% in the winter months.

We know any increase in bills can make this time of year more stressful and difficult to manage household finances – and we're here to help.

Just like last year, we’re offering a winter payment plan program to help make it easier to manage your winter bills.

You can take up to six months to pay a winter bill by requesting payment arrangements

If you've received a higher than expected winter bill that you're unable to pay, you'll be able to request payment arrangements to make regular payments on the amount owing for up to six months.

Winter payment plans are available for bills issued from December 1, 2017 to March 31, 2018. Look for your billing date on your bill to be sure.

You'll need to call in to request arrangements before the due date listed on your bill – don't wait until a bill is overdue.

How to request payment arrangements: call our customer team

Give our customer team a call if you want to make payment arrangements for a winter bill, or explore other payment options for your account. We can get things set up and discuss arrangements specifically for your situation.

For customers with electric heat, our equal payment plan is a great option. This lets you pay the same amount each month, which typically means higher winter bills are spread out through the rest of the year. You’ll be able to keep track of how much electricity you're using and how much you're paying on each bill.

For income-qualifying customers, you may be eligible to receive a free kit of energy-saving products such as LED bulbs and weatherstripping that can save you energy and money all year long. We've increased funding for our conservation programs for low-income customers to deliver more support – we're spending about $10 million on these programs over the next three years.